Decreased Interleukin‐7 and transforming growth factor‐beta1 levels in blister fluids as compared to the respective serum levels in patients with bullous pemphigoid: Opposite behavior of TNF‐alpha, Interleukin‐4 and Interleukin‐10

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Abstract
This study analyzes both the blister fluid (BF) and serum levels of IL‐7 and TGF‐beta1 in samples from 18 patients affected with bullous pemphigoid (BP). These cytokines clearly present lower concentrations (P1 variations were observed between normal and pathologic serum samples. In addition, the serum levels detected in BP patients were significantly correlated with disease intensity (r=0.64, P=0.003, evaluated as the number of blisters/erosions for each patient) as well as with the peripheral B‐lymphocyte counts (r=0.80, Pr=0.65, P1 and IL‐4, whose levels are elevated in BP BFs) as opposed to an increased peripheral release of the same modulator. The IL‐7 reduction may have a biological relevance in controlling a chronic, progressive disease.